"At this very hour or very shortly this morning a big event is happening in the United States of America," Pawlenty said in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. "Tiger Woods is holding his press conference at 11 o'clock eastern."

"Now, I think we can learn a lot about that situation," he said. "Not from Tiger but from his wife. She said, 'I've had enough.' She said, 'No more.' I think we should take a page out of her playbook and take a nine-iron and smash the window out of big government in this country. We've had enough."

The eyebrow-raising quip was a highlight in an otherwise low-key, morning talk delivered by the potential 2012 presidential candidate. Unlike former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who delivered a polished, rousing speech to the conservative audience on Thursday, Pawlenty opted to speak without a teleprompter and riff off his notes.

Having drawn an early time slot for his speech, Pawlenty spoke to a relatively low-energy crowd with in a ballroom with scores of empty seats. Though his speech likely won't draw rave reviews, the governor – who more often excels working small rooms - is maneuvering behind-the-scenes to endear himself to Republican staffers and activists at the conference.

Pawlenty stayed up late Thursday night at the Marriott Wardman Park at a cocktail reception meeting young Republicans and posing for pictures. And on Friday, his political action committee, Freedom First PAC, is holding a Georgetown fundraiser where the VIP guest will be Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a new star in GOP circles.

soundoff(131 Responses)

Now their stale talking points railing against taxes and the evils of government are combined with violent jokes. What's next, their disciples crashing planes into IRS buildings. Oh, wait...

February 19, 2010 11:52 am at 11:52 am |

Andy

Will Tiger Woods personal life never go away.Golf OK;but,his life I am sick hearing about it.

February 19, 2010 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Dianna - Florissant, MO

Umm...more Republican lies. Elin did NOT smash any windows or Tigers face. No "domestic violence" has ever happened according to Tiger. Yep, just more Repub bs. LOVE David Vitter's remarks today about wasteful spending – on Louisianna police dept, schools, transportation and military construction. Yep, all a huge waste. (I hope the police remind him of this statement when/if he ever calls them for any reason)

February 19, 2010 11:55 am at 11:55 am |

andrewstl

what s tupid thing to say.

thanks god america and its public are getting smarter and non sense the gop puts ouit is called out

February 19, 2010 11:57 am at 11:57 am |

Alex

Using an incident of domestic violence to make a political point. Really shows the caliber of people involved at CPAC, doesn't it. There are metaphors and then there are stupid metaphors. Clearly this guy doesn't know the difference.

February 19, 2010 11:58 am at 11:58 am |

An 8 year old ELEPHANT dung heap, does not transform into compost in just 1 year!

Great, just what we need, another tea bagger advocating violence! Wasn't smashing windows with an airplane enough for the treasonous anarchists?

Are these Nazis not satisfied with just hoping President Obama "fails", now they advocate violence?

Yesterday, one of the Beck wrecks had been whipped into such a frenzy, he tried to take others out with him by crashing a plane into a building.

Hope all you tea baggers are happy, you now have a "hero", some cowardly tax evader that tried to do his "part" to get back at "big" government by attempting to kill innocent people. Hopefully, only the loser died.

Great "family value" kill those trying to enforce the rules that you chose to ignore.

But then you Reds also worship Bailin' Palin who's only completed task to date is the mayor of Wasilla and she can be bought and paid to say anything for the right price. Retard=fired, and retard=disappointing depending upon the audience. Tea baggers are lone patriots, and tea baggers better join a either a R or D party.

Add prostitution to those "family values" you tout.

February 19, 2010 11:59 am at 11:59 am |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

That is so lame Pawlenty. As an elected official, you should keep your comments to yourself regarding other people's marital affairs.

February 19, 2010 12:01 pm at 12:01 pm |

Jay T.

It has to be tough when an athlete's infidelities are far more interesting to the American people than a bunch of grouchy, old hypocrites railing about a situation to which they contributed.

February 19, 2010 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |

Scott F

The next speaker will be telling folks to take a piece out of big government by flying their planes into govt. buildings.... Perhaps these folks should remember that the mentally ill out there might just take them seriously.....

February 19, 2010 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |

mary from minnesota

Wow. I do not care for my governor to mock the victim(s) of a sad, sad situation. [Woods and family] I see now he has no heart, just a pretty smile. Which must also be the reason why he would veto a bill extending Minnesota health benefits to the poorest of the poor and the sickest of the sick.

February 19, 2010 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

FactCheck

You stay classy RNC... stay classy.

February 19, 2010 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

Donkey Party

Just when you think a dirtbag has reached their low, Pawlenty slanders Tiger Woods and his wife who are trying to reconcile their relationship. If you're going to "quip" about someone's infidelity, why don't you use Ensign or Sanford? Filthy scumbag Republicans, I hope they all die, like the Teabagger in Austin who was also "fed-up" with government. Civil War is coming, conservatism and those who support it must be eradicated before they completely destroy America. They are worse than Al-Queda and the Taliban combined, because they're already here on our soil. Fight for your freedom, fight against the Right.

February 19, 2010 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

Rob Mulder

This is utterly disgusting. I can't believe that we have sunk this low that "mainstream" politicians are calling out to a violent revolution! We are nearing an end to any civility in this country. Things really need to turn around before it gets out of hand. Guns will end up at rallies at some point and we can start talking about domestic terrorism.......... again. Unbelievable!

February 19, 2010 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |

Charlie in Maine

We did smash the window. Election day 2008. Your party screwed things up so badly that we barely re-covered. You are the idiots that drove this counrty into a ditch and now you want to tell the tow truck driver how to do his job.

Thanks for your imput now stut your pie-hole.

February 19, 2010 12:07 pm at 12:07 pm |

shoegazer

Open mouth,insert foot.Gee Tim,what a witty remark.You moron.

February 19, 2010 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |

Malcolm

Real classy to make fun of Tiger Woods' situation, who just by "coincidence" happens to be another man of color at the top who is facing difficulty.

February 19, 2010 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |

Paul

Sorry, governor Pawlenty, but a nutjob (will we find out he was a Tea Bagger before long?) in Texas did you one better yesterday. Arrogant fool.

February 19, 2010 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |

Repubs look to Dems for miracles when not in power

Here we go again, it's like hearing Achy Breaky Heart but in it's place is Big Government.

People who work in government telling me that it's too big? Fine, let's fire all the government officials who go on news shows and conventions instead of doing their job.

Oh wait, then we would have to fire all of Congress.

Epic Fail.

February 19, 2010 12:09 pm at 12:09 pm |

davis

totally irresponsible thing to say, esp. from an elected official!

February 19, 2010 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |

GI Joe

Oh TPaw – smash those windows. Hate, fear, violence.

The guy in Austin TX smashed some windows -- is that what you want from your fellow-wingnuts?

February 19, 2010 12:10 pm at 12:10 pm |

Democrats for the Next 20-Years

Shame on Pawlenty, the only way he can get a rise out of that bored audience was to throw this little unproven ditty out about Tiger's wife shows how popular this right wing nut job is.

Tiger Woods this morning said to 'leave his wife and kids alone', and this right wing nut job tried to shine in Tiger's spotlight because he can't grab the spotlight on his own. Shame on you Tim, even in his shame, Tiger has more class than him.

Tim Pawlenty will never get the nomination.

February 19, 2010 12:11 pm at 12:11 pm |

Sadie

Boy will the Republicans stop at NOTHING when it comes to throwing trash at others......if not the President now Tiger Woods.....you know maybe the rest of America should do to the Republicans as Jennie Stanford did to her husband .......and that was throw his A@#ss out, just like we should do with all you Republicans......we want to hear solutions for the problems of this country ........ can you republicans do that? All I hear is every speaker getting up in front of the crowd and running people down.......that is all you republicans can do is stur up Anger, Animosity, Hate, Fear, and you try to do it with every speaker.....as for Cheney and his remark about Obama is going to be a 1 term President......well we will see.....lots of ground to cover till November and till 2012......so choose your words with care make them soft and sweet, you never know from day to day which ones you'll have to EAT.

February 19, 2010 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

get real

Pawlenty went too far here. His rambling, crazy statement trying to tie a horrible domestic issue to the country as a whole.

February 19, 2010 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |

dcherry

did he just make fun of domestic violence?

Watch the media just let this go....

February 19, 2010 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

Jane (Minnesota)

NIce analogy, T-Paw! Make Reference what was a domestic violence incident and encourage the wingnuts to be like that. I am SO GLAD you will NOT be governor of Minnesota after this year! It's going to take years to untangle the mess you've made of the state.